New Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick emphasizes school choice as one of his top legislative priorities at a Texas Tribune event on Jan. 27, 2015.

Virtual learning, A through F school ratings and teacher quality were among the topics covered by broad slate of education reform bills announced by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Education Chairman Larry Taylor Tuesday.

Personal attendants help the elderly and disabled with daily tasks ranging from rising and eating to bathing and going to the bathroom. For that, the state pays them about $8 an hour. Gov. Greg Abbott and some fiscal conservatives want to raise their wages.

From gasoline sales to grocery purchases, the Texas Department of Agriculture is supposed to ensure consumers aren't getting ripped off by fuel pumps, retail scanners or other measuring devices. But the agency is so cash-strapped that consumers are getting "screwed" due to a lack of oversight, the agency's new commissioner says.

Voters are evenly split on whether the state should offer in-state tuition rates for undocumented immigrants, but that outer parity covers some pronounced polarization on the issue, according to the latest UT/TT Poll.

Texans in this month's University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll made clear that the property tax is their least favorite. The only other tax to be disliked by voters more than it is liked is the business margins tax.

Ted Cruz's wide lead over other contenders for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination in Texas has disappeared; he is now in a virtual tie with the surging Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Among Democrats, Hillary Clinton has a wide lead.

On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, talk turns to some state Republicans' rhetoric after recent gay marriage and immigration rulings — will their celebrations now make them seem out of touch in the future?

Gov. Greg Abbott outlined an ambitious agenda in his first State of the State address. While many lawmakers lauded his goals, some questioned how the state can afford to spend billions of dollars on roads and higher education research while cutting billions in tax revenue.

UPDATED: Gov. Greg Abbott, delivering his first major policy address to the Texas Legislature Tuesday, laid out an ambitious agenda for the next two years, including an expansion of pre-kindergarten, massive tax cuts and roads as far as the traffic-glazed eye can see.

Speaking to a joint session of the 84th Texas Legislature, Gov. Greg Abbott will outline his vision for Texas in his first State of the State address. He is expected to focus on improving the state's education system, securing the border and investing in roads.

Speaking to a joint session of the 84th Texas Legislature, Gov. Greg Abbott will outline his vision for Texas in his first State of the State address. He is expected to focus on improving the state's education system, securing the border and investing in roads.

Advocates for ethics reform say Gov. Greg Abbott has a rare chance to help spearhead improved lawmaker disclosures and reduce conflicts of interest in Texas. Abbott, who proposed ethics reform during the 2014 gubernatorial campaign, is expected to address the issue Tuesday in his State of the State address.

Gov. Greg Abbott hailed a federal judge's decision Monday to halt President Obama’s executive action on immigration — a decision that gave the state of Texas an initial victory in its battle against what state leaders call federal overreach. On Tuesday, the White House stood by the president's order and announced its intent to appeal.

After Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced a proposal to extend the National Guard's stay along the Texas-Mexico border, House Speaker Joe Straus said in effect that such power only with Gov. Greg Abbott. That's not the only issue causing a potential House-Senate divide.

During his time as attorney general, now-Gov. Greg Abbott made his lawsuits against the Obama administration — 31 in total — a point of pride. Use our interactive to learn more about what each face-off is about, the total cost to the state and the standing of each lawsuit.